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Best way to improve my Theater with $1500.00

I just won an award from my work. They gave me $1500.00 worth of Amazon gift cards. I want to use it on my home theater, and was hoping to get a little advise.

Right now I am in a condo, so my HT is basic. In about 6 months I will buy a house and build a dedicated home theater. I usually buy used gear, to save a small fortune. I have not spent any money recently on anything new. I did try a Pioneer Elite Receiver with the digital amps and HDMI and all that. It didn't sound as good as my B&K gear at all so I returned it.

My theater consists of a b&k Ref 50s2. B&K AV-5000S2 amp. Sony BDP-s550 blue ray running LPCP analong out to the Ref 50. All monster m1000 series interconnects. I also have a PS3 and a Direct tv box. Right now I have a 60" Panasonic Plasma, A thiel Smart Sub, DCM TFV-6.0 as mains and CX-17 as center, plus rears. When I get the full theater going again I will use my DCM TFV -10.0's as mains (I have 2 pair) and maybe rears/ center. I will also want to go with a front projector for video. I listen to both music and movies, and would like to look into streaming lossless from my PC.

So, Knowing my plan, what gear should I buy?

1. I have been debating on upgrading to an all Thiel system. I can pick up used speakers on Audiogon, craigslist o ebay pretty cheap. I may invest the 1500 twards new ones though.

2. Oppo bdp-105 or the step down. I know they do lossless streaming and have good DAC's. However, will I see that much increase over the DAC in my B&k? (since I coudl keep it instead of getting a new processor)

3. Get a new processor. One of the newer Marantz/ onkyo ? emotiva/ outlaw. Would I need a new or better blue ray at this point? Or just use my PS3 or PS4 when it comes out. Will I notice better sound/ vid quality with lossless formats by ising an oppo over the ps3 with a newer processor? Should I get an AVR and use it as a Processor?

4. Wait and buy a projector? I would probably like this potion least. Just because I can probably grab a deal on craigslist on a used one very cheap. I am less concerned about video quality and don't want 3D. I want a good picture but my thing is mainly sound.

5. When I build my theater I will build it to my ideal. I have spent 16 years building houses, so the construction is not a problem.

So Any thoughts or ideas on how to spend my money??
dcmlover
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.

I dont know much about your speakers & sub, but I do know I like dynamic speakers for HT. Hard to beat Kkipsch reference. You could almost get Klipsch KLF 30's, 20's, and the C7 for just over 1500. If you upgraded their tweeter diaphrams from Crites to titanium(another 160 aprox) your theater would rock.

I have owned all the Logans. They will play loud with a good amp, but their dynamics stink IMO. I now use the KLF setup, and smile with every movie.

Again I am not familiar with your speakers.

I also prefer 2-4 quality subs that may have less spl, but go deep, verses 1 monster sub in one location.
avgoround
287 posts
 
"Thanks Tim. Trust me, I am very careful about the money I spend. That is why I am looking for advise . I want to make sure I spend my money wisely."
(Dcmlover)

Albert Einstein (kinda smart guy -had a few answers) once said something like: -"It wasn't that I was smarter that I learned these things, but that I merely stayed with the problem longer"
-"I have no special talents, only that I am passionately curious"

If you really wan't to know for yourself, YOU'RE GUNNA HAVE TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE! Otherwise, you'll settle for what someone else thinks is right for you. You'll get out of it what you put into it. For those of us, it's a Hobby.
dcmlover OP
18 posts
 
04-18-13: Sthomas12321
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.

Isn't the DAC in my Sony just kind of mediocre? A better dac like oppo would sound better I think.
dcmlover OP
18 posts
 
If you really wan't to know for yourself, YOU'RE GUNNA HAVE TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE! Otherwise, you'll settle for what someone else thinks is right for you. You'll get out of it what you put into it. For those of us, it's a Hobby.
Avgoround (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

That is why I have't bought anything yet. I am asking for opinions, then experiencing for myself. I won't just blindly purchase based on someones option. It is however a way to direct me to certain products or ideas. Especially with areas I am not as familiar with. That is the great thing about forums. You look for random opinions from hobbyists with similar passions, and look for what other people like and don't like and why.
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
04-22-13: Dcmlover
04-18-13: Sthomas12321
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.

It isnt the best DAC, but with HD audio its not likely to sound terrible. For me, once your at HD audio, its more about dynamics and tonal preference of different brands. Personally I would go with your blu ray player with HD audio over your B&K standard dolby digital DTS. But I love B&K's characteristics over Sonys with what I have owned. If your playing DVD the B&K is the ticket.

There is a point of limited return for your money. HD audio really makes even the cheaper DAC's sound pretty good. The difference in my ps3 fat pcm losless, vs a transport to my Onkyo 866 prepro doing the decoding is extremely small. I'm not a huge Onkyo fan, but thats just tonal preference, it does play clean. So, I think your combo is not your wealk link. I'd go with speakers and projector. I am sound over video btw.

Again, just my opinion.
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